Static pressure piston operated diverter mechanism

ABSTRACT

A diverter spout is shown in which the diverter mechanism reciprocates vertically within a chamber of the spout and includes a valve stem with a valve head at the lower end and a piston at the upper end. When the diverter mechanism is raised into a diverting position the valve head mates with a valve seat to cut-off water flow from the spout, and the piston is moved into a position wherein water pressure is removed from its upper side, so that pressure on the lower side is sufficient to retain the piston and valve head in the raised position.

United States Patent 11 1 Nicklas 1 1 Feb. 18, 1975 1 STATIC PRESSURE PISTON OPERATED 3,499,440 3/1970 Gibbs 137/119 x DIVERTER M NI 3,602,244 8/1971 Ward 137/119 3,656,503 4/1972 Ward 137/119 X Inventor: James Nicklas, Hales e 3,739,806 6/1973 BUCknGll ct 1.1 137/119 X Wis. 3,746,031 7/1973 Christiansen [73] Assignee: Brad ey Corporation, Menomonee R27,819 11/1973 Moen 137/467 X Falls, Wis.

Primary bramuzer-Charlcs J. Myhre Filedi J 1973 Assistant Examiner-lra S. Lazarus I [21] AppL NO; 368,639 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Quarles & Brady 52 us. c1 137/608, 137/119, 137/467, [57] ABSTRACT 4/148 A diverter spout is shown in which the diverter mech- [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 31/44 anism reciprocates vertically within a chamber of the [58] Field of Search 137/608, 610, 119, 467; spout and includes a valve stem with a valve head at 251/ 39; 14 the lower end and a piston at the upper end. When the diverter mechanism is raised into a diverting posi- [56] References Cited tion the valve head mates with a valve seat to cut0ff NI ST S P NTS water flow from the spout. and the piston is moved 2791231 5/1957 Bletchel' et a1. 137/119 a Position wherein Water Pressure is remoYed 3:176:924 4/1965 Canavan 137 608 x from its PP side so that Pressure the lower 3,416,555 12 1968 Chapou 137/119 is sufficifint to retain the Piston and valve head n the 3,459,207 8/1969 Bacheller... 137/119 raised position. 3,471,872 10/1969 Symmons 137/119 X 3,473,558 10/1969 Mongerson 137/119 x 3 Clalm5- 4 Drawmg Flgures STATIC PRESSURE PISTON OPERATED DIVERTER MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to diverter mechanisms particularly adapted for tub spouts.

Tub spouts are frequently associated with tub showers, in that the water supply is connected to both the spout and the shower. Water will ordinarily flow from the spout when a supply valve is turned on, and to cause water to flow from the shower it is necessary to stop the flow through the spout, so that water is then diverted into and through the shower. Thus, spouts are commonly provided with diverter mechanisms that are manually operated to block water passage through the spout, to thereby cause water to back-up in the system for diverted flow through the shower. The blocking, or diverting position is usually maintained by water pressure working against the diverter mechanism.

Spout diverters must be able to automatically return to normal, open position when the water supply is turned off. Gravity is relied on to return the mechanism to the open position, and also the return force must be adequate to overcome any residual water head that may remain in the plumbing system. Usually the valve components of the diverter mechanism are made with imperfect seals, so that some leakage may occur which will bleed off any excessive water head that re mains, and then gravity can be fully relied upon to return the movable parts to the open position, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,022,875; 2,997,058; 3,387,816; 3,419,914; 3,473,558; and 3,656,503 show a variety of constructions illustrating diverter spouts with gravity return to the open position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,748 discloses a diverter spout with a spring assist for return to open position, and diverter mechanisms that are not located in a tub spout, but rather are in a wall or a shower control frequently use spring return mechanisms. Examples of diverter constructions utilizing springs are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,878,097; 2,519,158; 3,144,873; 3,236,253; 3,416,553; and 3,601,141.

Another form of diverter system, which is automatic in operation, and which finds primary use for spray heads connected to faucets by flexible tubing, is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,459,207 and 3,461,901. Similar automatic diverters, but housed in tub spouts, are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,791,231 and 3,602,244. In these constructions there is a piston, one side of which is acted upon by water from the fluid supply, and the other side of which is in communication with a conduit, such as a flexible hose leading to a spray head, that opens to atmosphere when an open-close valve at the spray head is opened, but which otherwise is dead ended. When the conduit is open to atmosphere water flows around the periphery of the piston with a resultant pressure drop. Low pressure results on the piston side communicating with the atmosphere, and a piston movement takes place which closes an associated diverter valve. Water now flows around the piston to the spray head, and by reason of the pressure drop around the piston periphery a continued diverting function is obtained. This is quite different from the static device of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in a flow diverter mechanism for a spout having an outlet and an internal cylinder portion, in which there is a reciprocatable valve head that moves into sealing engagement with the outlet, and a piston in the cylinder portion that is connected with the valve head for movement in unison therewith, which piston seals with the cylinder walls and is held by fluid pressure to maintain the valve head in its sealing engagement with the outlet.

The diverter mechanism has a single moving part that comprises a valve head at one end and a piston at the other end. It is manually operated toward the diverting position, and it is maintained in that position by static pressure. Fluid pressure works upward on the underside of the piston, and also downward on the valve head which seals the outlet. The piston reciprocates in a cylinder portion of a chamber, and for diverting fluid flow it moves into a blind end of the cylinder portion. A seal between the piston and the cylinder blind end effectively isolates the upper surface of the piston from fluid pressure, so that the pressure on the underside, or opposite piston face, will hold the entire diverting mechanism in the diverting position.

The piston is at a substantial distance from the valve head which closes off the spout outlet during the diverting function. A valve stem interconnects the piston and valve head, and by spacing the piston at a distance from the valve head it is positioned out of the turbulent water flow that occurs at the outlet and around the valve head. In this respect, the invention is unlike the diverter in U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,503, which employs a thin walled, hollow valve at the outlet in which holding pressure must be developed immediately in the vicinity of the outlet.

In itspreferred form, the invention utilizes a smooth surfaced, rounded valve head directly beneath the spout outlet. Fluid flow may conform around this surface, rather than be splashed sidewise, so that the discharge stream from the spout is confined. To supplement this confining action, a shroud is spaced from and encircles the valve head to direct fluid axially from the spout outlet. A very desirable flow pattern can then be achieved.

By having the valve head depend below the spout opening it becomes the manually engageable part by which the diverter mechanism is operated. No unsightly knob need extend above the spout, nor is there any opening in the top of the spout through which seepage may occur during the diverting operation.

The invention also provides for a simple cartridge assembly that can be inserted into a spout. This cartridge assembly comprises an inverted cup which, when in position, subdivides a chamber in a spout into an outlet region and a cylinder portion, with normal water flow through the spout being separated from the cylinder portion. The piston then rests upon the top of the inverted cup, so that there is not any water pressure that may work upwardly against the piston. The inverted cup also provides a convenient bearing for the valve stem, to hold the parts in assembled, operable relation. The invertedcup is held in place in a spout by an outlet shroud that includes a valve seat, such shroud being threaded into position in the spout.

Objects of the invention are to provide a diverter mechanism that works by static pressure, that has a piston working in a cylinder portion that is separated from fluid flow, that has no protrusion or opening in the top of an associated spout, that controls fluid flow in a confined pattern, and is simple in form and economical to produce.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation three preferred embodiments of the invention. Such embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention, but rather the invention may be employed in many different embodiments, and reference is made to the claims herein for interpreting the breadth of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in cross section of the discharge end of a bathtub spout incorporating a diverter valve embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of the construction of FIG. 1 with parts of the diverter valve in a raised, flow diverting position,

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the discharge end of a second embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section of a third embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the discharge end of a bathtub spout l which has an internal, threaded nipple 2 mounted upon a water supply pipe to provide a water inlet. The nipple 2 enters upon an internal chamber 3 which is open at its bottom to provide an outlet region for discharge of water through the spout 1. The top of the chamber 3 is a cylinder portion which has an upwardly extending, shallow, circular pocket 4 that presents a downwardly facing, circumferential lip 5.

Housed within the chamber 3 is an inverted cup 6 that has its upper, circumferential edge fitting tightly against a downwardly facing ledge 7 formed in the wall of the chamber 3. The inverted cup 6 is open at its left hand side, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, to receive water entering from the internal nipple 2, and the bottom of the cup 6 is open to allow discharge of water from the spout 1. The inverted cup 6 includes a centrally located bearing sleeve 8, and extending through the sleeve 8 is a vertically movable valve stem 9. The upper end of the valve stem 9 merges into a circular piston 10 housed in the cylinder portion of the chamber 3. The upper portion of the piston 10 can be received by the shallow pocket 4, as shown in FIG. 2, and the rim of the piston 10 is fitted with a flexible sealing ring 11 that moves into and away from engagement with the lip of the pocket 4. When the piston is in its lower position, as shown in FIG. 1, it rests upon and is supported by a horizontal base 12 of the inverted cup 6. The base 12 extends across the chamber 3 at about mid-height of the chamber 3 to form a partition that divides the chamber 3 into a lower outlet region that coincides with the interior of the cup 6, through which water flows for discharge from the bottom of the spout 1, and into the upper cylinder portion above the cup 6 in which the piston 10 reciprocates back and forth.

Threaded securely to the bottom end of the valve stem 9 is a spherical valve head 13 which is raised and lowered in unison with the movement of the stem 9 and the piston 10. Encircling the valve head 13 is a cylindrical shroud 14 which is threaded into the spout l. The shroud 14 is tightened upward against the inverted cup 6, to hold the cup 6 tight against the seating ledge 7. The shroud 14 is open at its center for the discharge of water out of the chamber 3 and cup 6, and it includes an inward rim 15 which is formed to present a valve seat 16. The seat 16 is in the form of a sector of a sphere that matches the surface of the valve head 13, so that as the valve head 13 is moved upward it seats against the valve seat 16 to effectively block water flow. The seated position of the valve head 13 is shown in FIG. 2. As is also shown in FIG. 2, the valve stem 9 is tubular to provide a weepage drain 17 leading from above the piston 10 downward to the atmosphere, and this drain l7 continues through the valve head 13 as two oblique drain openings 18.

When the spout 1 is conducting water the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 1. The spherical valve head 13 is in its lower position, substantially beneath the valve seat 16. Downward movement is limited by the piston 10 resting upon the base 12 of the cup 6. Water then flows into the portion of the chamber 3 beneath the partition formed by the cup base 12 and outward through the valve seat 16. Water flows around the spherical valve head 13, and the encircling shroud 14 is somewhat upward relative to the valve head 13, so that the lowermost skirt like portion of the shroud 14 is at about the maximum diameter of the valve head 13. The shroud 14 then functions to direct water more or less axially or straight downward to confine it around the spherical valve head 13. The smooth, rounded valve configuration has the affect of contouring the water flow around its surface, so that water leaving the spout 1 may present a concentrated stream departing downward from the under part of the head 13. Phantom lines 19 shown in FIG. 1 represent in a general way the nature of water flow that may occur from the combined effect of the shroud 14 and rounded valve head 13. The flow pattern will vary with volume, pressure and velocity, but for those conditions in which the water clings to the rounded, ball shaped valve head 13 the stream may have the desirable appearance of a high velocity, concentrated flow. The phenomena of flowing water tending to conform about a rounded body is utilized to achieve a confining effect upon the discharge stream 19 that focuses the stream 19 within a relatively narrow cross section, as distinguished from an outward flaring, or spray like flow pattern. Thus, the diverter valve mechanism of the invention functions, when in its non-diverting operation, to have a controlling effect upon the water flow by providing a spherical, or rounded, ball shaped surface in the center of the water stream. The encircling shroud having its water confining surface aligned with the desired direction of water flow may also contribute to the stream pattern.

To divert water flow from the discharge outlet of the spout 1, in order to redirect the water flow to some associated apparatus such as a shower head, all that a person need do is place his hand under the shroud l4 and raise the valve head 13 to the position of FIG. 2. The valve stem 9 is shifted upward, and the piston 10 is raised to bring the flexible sealing ring 11 into engagement with the lip 5. Water entrapped in the upper cylinder portion of the chamber 3 and within the shallow circular pocket 4 will escape by flowing downward and outward through the drain 17. As the flexible ring 11 comes into close proximity with the lip 5 the flow of water around the lip 5 into the circular pocket 4 will be at an increasing velocity, due to the restriction that occurs, and this creates a pressure drop across the flow of high velocity between the sealing ring 11 and lip 5. This pressure drop results in a lowering of the water pressure in the circular pocket 4. Water entering into the chamber 3 beneath the piston will create a pressure on the underside of the piston 10 which urges the piston 10 upwardly, and since the pressure within the circular pocket 4 is now at a lower value there will actually be a hydraulic lifting action to assist a person manually moving the diverter valve head 13 upward toward the position of FIG. 2.

When the flexible ring 11 seats against the lip 5 water flow into the circular pocket 4 ceases, and pressure within the cylinder portion of the chamber 3 will hold the piston 10 upward in a sealed position. The valve head 13 is then held against the valve seat 16, so that water flow through the lower part of the chamber 3 and the shroud 14 is cut off. The surface area presented by the bottom side of the piston 10 and the flexible ring 11 is greater that the surface area presented by the valve head 13, so that the net force of the water now entrapped within the chamber 3 will retain the valve head 13, valve stem 9 and piston 10 in a raised position after the user removes his hand from the bottom of the valve head 13.

When pressure in the water supply is cut off, such as by closing an associated faucet or water supply valve, the diverter mechanism comprising the valve head 13, valve stem 9 and piston 10 will fall to the position of FIG. 1. This movement, however, might not occur if the seal between the valve seat 16 and the valve head 13 were a perfect seal, and if the water head within the plumbing system remained at any substantial pressure, such that the force against the underside of the piston 10 remains sufficient when balanced against gravity and the force on the valve head 13 to maintain the movable diverter mechanism in the upper position of FIG. 2. To ensure that this does not occur, the seal between the valve seat 16 and valve head 13 is not perfect, or as perfect as the seal between the lip 5 and the flexible ring 11. Rather, it is preferable that some leakage occur through the valve seat 16, and as this leakage occurs the water pressure within the chamber 3 will fall to a point where gravity acting upon the movable diverter mechanism will ensure that the parts descend into the position of FIG. 1.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. There is a spout 20, an internal nipple 21 and a chamber 22. An inverted cup 23 with a bearing sleeve 24 is seated in the chamber 22. A valve stem 25 reciprocates in the sleeve 24, and at the bottom of the stem 25 is a diverter valve head 26. A piston 27 is at the upper end of the valve stem 25, and it does not have a flexible sealing ring such as the ring 11 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Rather the piston may move upward into the upper, circular cylindrical end of the chamber 3 without developing a very tight seal, such as occurs in FIG. 2. Rather, there is a rather imperfect seal.

In FIG. 3 there is a flexible, annular sealing ring 28 sandwiched between the bottom edge of the inverted cup 23 and the top of a shroud 29. This flexible ring 28 is engaged by the spherical surface of the diverter valve head 26 when the diverter parts are moved upward into a diverting position. Hence, a substantially tight seal is formed when the valve head 26 is raised upward into diverting position, and the ring 28 provides a flexible form of valve seat. The shroud 29 does not make solid, metallic contact with the valve head 26, as occurred in FIG. 2, and to limit upward movement the piston 27 strikes the top of the chamber 22. Water may seep around the periphery of the piston 27, and it will escape through the hollow valve stem 25. The embodiment of FIG. 3 operates similarly as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that there is a reversal of the regions at which substantially tight and imperfect seals are formed.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention. An inverted cup 30 takes up the entire end chamber of a spout 31, and has a side opening 32 to admit water. The cup 30 is open at the bottom, and other than for the side opening 32 and open bottom is a tight enclosure. Fitted snugly in the cup 30 is a first sleeve 33 with a side opening forming a continuation of the opening 32, an open top, and an open bottom formed with a lip 34-. Held on the upper side of the lip 34 is an annular sealing ring 35 which extends radially inward of the lip 34 to present a flexible valve seat.

A piston 36 reciprocates in the sleeve 33, which piston comprises a center disc 37 with two openings 38, a rim 39 that is L-shaped in cross section and surrounds the disc 37, and a flexible, flat, annular flapper valve 40 held in place by the rim 39. The flapper valve 40 overlaps the openings 38, and by reason of its flexible property can close oropen the openings 38.

A valve stem 41 extends downward from the piston disc 37, and threaded upon the lower end of the stem 41 is a spherical diverter valve head 42. A second sleeve 43 on the inside wall of the sleeve 33 has an inwardly turned upper lip at about mid-height in the spout chamber which limits the descent of the piston 36. The bottom edge of the second sleeve 43 holds the flexible sealing ring 35 in place, and the upper end of the sleeve 43 with its turned lip divides the interior into an upper cylinder portion in which the piston 36 reciprocates and a lower outlet region. To complete the construction, there is a weep channel 44 in the cup 30 which leads from above the piston. 36 down the inside wall of the cup 30 to atmosphere.

When the diverter parts are in their lower, nondiverting position, the piston 36 rests on the ledge afforded by the upper end of the second sleeve 43. Water can flow downward through the flapper 41), in addition to water entering the lower outlet region of the cup 30 at a level beneath the upper end of the sleeve 43. If desired, the sleeve 43 can have solid walls at its left hand side, so that all water is directed through the flapper 40. This could occur when it is desired] to increase the vertical stroke of the diverter mechanism by making the sleeve 43 a ring of short height. Also, if desired, the valve stem 41 can be guided in a central bearing, as in the other embodiments, by supporting such a bearing from spokes emanating inward from and integral with the top of the sleeve 43. Such spokes would leave openings that would not interfere with the flapper 40.

To divert water flow in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the valve head 42 is moved by hand] upward into the position shown. Water trapped above the piston 36 will flow downward through the openings 38 and the flapper 40. As the sphere shaped valve head 42 comes upward it engages the ring 35 and water pressure, will act to keep a good seal, whereby water flow out the spout 31 is arrested. Water pressure builds up within the cup 30, and this pressure closes the flapper 40 over the openings 38. The area on the underside of the piston 36 is greater than the effective area of the valve head 42 upon which the water acts. As a result, the diverter mechanism is maintained in an upper position, so long as a source of water pressure remains. There will be some seepage around the periphery of the piston rim 39, and then out the weep channel 44, and when pressure is cut-off at the water source pressure will fall in the cup 30, so that the diverter mechanism will fall to open position.

In each embodiment shown, the manual operation is from beneath the spout outlet. This has the advantage of causing the user to make an automatic check of water temperature before stepping into an associated shower,'that might otherwise be too cold or hot. If desired, a manual operating stem may be attached to the top of the piston and extended through the top of the spout.

In conclusion, the invention provides a diverter particularly adapted for spouts in which a reciprocatable member has a valve head at one end and a pressure piston at the other end. When this mechanism is moved into diverting position a substantially tight seal is made at one end, and an imperfect seal is made at the other end. This ensures that there is some water seepage, so that when pressure at the water source is removed, the pressure within the spout will fall sufficiently to have the diverter mechanism return to open condition. The pressure piston has been described as residing and reciprocating within a cylinder portion of the spout chamber. Such cylinder need not be close fit for the piston, or even a true cylinder, for it is sufficient if it is a region adequate in configuration for the piston to reciprocate and make a seal in its upper, or diverting position.

I claim:

1. In a flow diverter mechanism for a discharge spout that has:

a. an outlet that presents a valve seat;

b. an internal cylinder region disposed inward of said outlet that has a remote end away from said outlet;

e. a fluid inlet that feeds said outlet and which is also in communication with said internal cylinder region;

d. a valve head located'on the discharge side of said outlet movable toward said valve seat for engagement therewith;

e. a valve stem attached to said valve head extending toward said internal cylinder region;

f. a piston attached to said valve stem that is located in said cylinder region and which moves in unison as an assembly with said valve head and said valve stem, such piston entering into a blocking engagement with the walls of said internal cylinder region that closes off the remote end of said cylinder region when said valve head is in its engagement with said valve seat;

the combination therewith of:

i. a motion limiting ledge inside said spout located between said outlet and said internal cylinder region with said piston on one side thereof and said valve head on the other side thereof, said ledge supporting said piston and valve head assembly when said valve head is away from said valve seat; and

ii. the engagements of said valve head with said valve seat, and of said piston with the walls of said cylinder region providing one engagement that is an imperfect seal allowing fluid seepage therethrough, and a second engagement that is a substantially tight seal in relation to the imperfect seal.

2. A flow diverter mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said remote end of said internal cylinder region is a blind end formed by a spout wall that is without any opening passing into said internal cylinder region, and said valve head presents a manually engageable lower end for upward movement into cooperative engagement with said valve seat.

3. A flow diverter mechanism as in claim 2, wherein said valve head presents a spherical surface to fluid flowing outward from said outlet, and there is a'shroud encircling said spherical surface downstream from said valve seat. 

1. In a flow diverter mechanism for a discharge spout that has: a. an outlet that presents a valve seat; b. an internal cylinder region disposed inward of said outlet that has a remote end away from said outlet; c. a fluid inlet that feeds said outlet and which is also in communication with said internal cylinder region; d. a valve head located on the discharge side of said outlet movable toward said valve seat for engagement therewith; e. a valve stem attached to said valve head extending toward said internal cylinder region; f. a piston attached to said valve stem that is located in said cylinder region and which moves in unison as an assembly with said valve head and said valve stem, such piston entering into a blocking engagement with the walls of said internal cylinder region that closes off the remote end of said cylinder region when said valve head is in its engagement with said valve seat; the combination therewith of: i. a motion limiting ledge inside said spout located between said outlet and said internal cylinder region with said piston on one side thereof and said valve head on the other side thereof, said ledge supporting said piston and valve head assembly when said valve head is away from said valve seat; and ii. the engagements of said valve head with said valve seat, and of said piston with the walls of said cylinder region providing one engagement that is an imperfect seal allowing fluid seepage therethrough, and a second engagement that is a substantially tight seal in relation to the imperfect seal.
 2. A flow diverter mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said remote end of said internal cylinder region is a blind end formed by a spout wall that is without any opening passing into said internal cylinder region, and said valve head presents a manually engageable lower end for upward movement into cooperative engagement with said valve seat.
 3. A flow diverter mechanism as in claim 2, wherein said valve head presents a spherical surface to fluid flowing outward from said outlet, and there is a shroud encircling said spherical surface downstream from said valve seat. 